USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume II pt 2 > Part 4
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In July, 1823, he was elected president of the collegiate institution which afterward became Amherst College. His friends in Pittsfield earn- estly besought him not to accept this position, and for a time he hesitated ; but ultimately he became convinced that duty required his acceptance of the position, and on the 3d of October, 1823, a council dissolved his con- nection with the church in Pittsfield. He was inducted into office at Am- herst October 15th. 1823. His labors there were more ardnons, and his wisdom and success, if not greater, were more conspicuous than in Pitts field. They are too well known to require repetition here.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
While Mr. Humphrey was considering the invitation to Amherst he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Middlebury College. In 1846 Yale College conferred upon him the further degree of Doctor of Laws.
Having resigned the presidency of Amherst College in 1845, leaving it among the leading institutions of learning in the country, Dr. Hum. phrey showed the strength and permanence of his affection for the people of his old charge by returning to Pittsfield to spend the evening of his days among them. He was then but sixty-three years old, and for seven- teen years he contributed his counsel and aid, with all the ardor, and almost with the vigor of his youth. to every enterprise, religious or sec- ular, which was proposed for the good of the town. Having thus lived, beloved and venerated, until the year 1861, he died on the 3d of April : and on the Sth was buried in the beautiful cemetery which, from the day when he took part in its consecration, he had loved to contemplate as his last resting place.
It has been stated that no parochial business was transacted by the town between 1810 and 1817. and that the affairs of the united parish, although nominally managed by the town, in accordance with the law, were practically managed by the members of the church, and that the expenses of the parish were defrayed by them. That Dr. Humphrey recognized the injustice of taxing for the support of his church those who did not worship in it was shown by his action in 1818. He discov- ered that several persons who did not attend on his ministry -- members of his parish by the law but not by their own will-were assessed for his support ; and he directed the treasurer to remit their taxes, and charge the deficiency which would arise to his own account.
A large portion of the Congregationalists here, especially those of the democratic party, agreed with members of other denominations in consider- ing the law which gave preference to the societies that professed the Con- gregational faith unjust, impolitic, inconsistent with American institu- tions, and detrimental to the true interests of the religion it was intended to protect.
In 1820 the question whether or not a convention for the revision of the bill of rights and constitution should be held was submitted to the people, and Pittsfield gave 116 affirmative votes with none in the negative.
Chief among the obnoxious clauses, the reform of which they de- sired, was the third article in the bill of rights, under which the laws providing for the support of public worship were framed.
The representatives of the town in this convention were Hon. Nathan Willis, Dr. H. H. Childs, and Jonathan Yale Clark. Dr. Childs submitted to the convention an amendment to the third article to the bill of rights. providing for the equality of all sects or denominations before the law. This amendment he supported with vigor and ability, but public opinion in other parts of the State was not as far advanced as in Pittsfield, and the amendment was not adopted. The feeble amendment which was
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adopted by the convention in place of that proposed by Dr. Childs, and which made substantially no change in the mode of supporting public worship, received in Pittsfield, when submitted to the people, eight yeas to 185 nays. It was defeated in the State.
The defeat of Dr. Child's amendment created a strong feeling of dis- satisfaction in Pittsfield, and the delegate from this town (General Wil- lis), who had voted against it in the convention, was loudly denounced. The irritated feeling of the dissenters was, however, manifested in vari- ous ways, and among others by the following advertisement, which was printed in the Sun of January, 1821, with a rude wood cut of a man kneel ing, with a chain around his neck, before another who held the other end:
" To all whom it may concern: Having been informed that there are many per- sons wishing to become members of the Methodist parish, and free themselves, as far as possible, from the oppression of a religious persecution, which the intolerants of the late convention still think proper to advise the people to submit to; I therefore take this method of giving notice that I am legally authorized, by said parish, to give the necessary certificates of membership.
" SYLVESTER RATHBUN.
"January 16th, 1821."
Public sentiment in the State overtook that of Pittsfield regarding this reform, and it was adopted in November, 1833, by a vote of 32,324 yeas to 3.272 nays.
The style and arrangement of the pews, and the method of seating the congregation in the church of the First Parish, was not satisfactory to the people, and as time went on their dissatisfaction increased. The pews were square and huge, " and the congregation," said Dr. Humphrey. "might stare at one another instead of looking at the preacher ; and high square play-houses along the sides of the galleries above were the seats of the children. The boys, not content to be so shut up. made good use of their penknifes in opening such communications as suited their convenience." " It is true." he added, "we had tithing men then. and they occasionally rapped in the midst of the sermon, and once in a while took a boy by the collar and marched him along to the tithing- man's seat, where he sat, casting an occasional stealthy sidelong glance at his playmates, who were enjoying his duress. It was a bad arrange. ment of the seats above and below."
As stated elsewhere, the congregation were seated by a committee. and in assigning the seats this committee took into consideration the so- cial standing, official position, professional occupation, and that indefina- ble combination of dress, bearing, and manner of living which, under the name of " style," is peenliaily obnoxions to the jealousy of a large class in every village community. The embittered feelings and jealous heart burnings which were the unavoidable consequences of such a custom cer- tainly had no tendency to promote the feeling that should pervade a so- ciety of Christians, and the desire for a change grew stronger with the lapse of time.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
In March, 1824. the voters in the town, belonging to the Congrega- tional society, were called to decide whether they would make sale of the pews as they then were, or change them to slips. Thomas B. Strong. John Dickinson, Butler Goodrich, Thomas A. Gold, and Samuel M. Me- Kay were appointed a committee to consider plans for a change. They recommended slips instead of pews, but no change in the method of seat ing. The next year a committee consisting of Phinehas Allen, Hosea Merrill. Charles Churchill, S. M. MeKay, and Jonathan Allen was ap- pointed, but no further action was taken till March, 1830. At this meet- ing a committee consisting of Nathan Willis, Simeon Brown, Ezekiel R. Colt, S. M. MeKay, Curtis T. Fenn, E. M. Bissell, Solomon L. Russell, and Henry H. Childs was appointed to consider the matter. The method which was adopted on the recommendation of this committee was the substitution of slips for pews, and the continuance of the plan of seating the congregation by a committee.
Finally, in November, 1836, nearly two years after the abolition of the compulsory support of public worship, the practice of seating the congregation by a committee was entirely done away with, and the pews were leased at a fixed price, the precedence of choice being sold at auc- tion ; a method which still prevails.
After the pastorate of Dr. Humphrey affairs in the church flowed smoothly, and its history presents few striking points.
Rev. Rufus William Bailey became pastor in 1524, and continued until 1827 ; his salary being raised during his pastorate from $809 to $950. He was succeeded, in August, 1828, by Rev. Henry Phillip Tappan, one of the most profound scholars who ever resided in Pittsfield. He resign- ed in August, 1831 : and was followed in February, by Rev. John W. Yeomans. The salary of both Mr. Tappan and Mr. Yeomans, was $500 per annum ; but the parish made Mr. Tappan a farewell gift of $400.
During the latter part of Mr. Yeoman's pastorate there arose among the members of the church a difference of opinion which resulted in a temporary division. An evangelist named Foot, from Albany, made his advent here, and held services in the Baptist church. Mr. Yeomans, who countenanced him at first, ceased to do so because he thought he saw in him a want of discretion. Upon this some members of the Congrega- tional church, who favored the employment of evangelists, and other ex- traordinary means for exciting popular interest in religion, forsook the First Parish, and worshipped in the old Union meeting honse. On the 19th of May. 1834, Lemuel Pomeroy, the owner of the old meeting house, with nineteen others, including Deacons Josiah Bissell. S. A. Danforth. and T. E. Mosely, and Dr. H. H. Childs, organized a new religious so. ciety, under the name of the Second Congregational Church of Pittsfield. No minister was settled over this society, but it was supplied by Rev. Samuel A. Allen. Rev. Professor Chester Dewey, Rev. Messrs. Hooker. of Lanesboro. Gridley, of Williamstown, and Kirk, afterward of Boston.
The affairs of the Congregational society ceased to be a part of the
yours truly 1
Jno. Toca.
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TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
town records in 1835, and the church records were burned in 1868, so that information concerning it is less full and definite than it otherwise would be.
Rev. Mr. Yeomans resigned in September. 1835. He afterward be- came president of La Fayette College, at Easton, Pennsylvama. It may here be remarked that four other pastors of this church became presi- dents of colleges : viz .. Rev. Dr. Allen, of Bowdoin : Rev. Dr. Hum phrey, of Amherst : Rev. Mr. Bailey, of Austin ; and Rev. Dr. Tappan, of the University of Michigan.
Rev. Mr. Yeomans was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. Horatio Nelson Brinsmade, who was installed in 1835, and resigned in August, 1841.
On the 21st of December, 1841, Rev. John Todd was elected pastor, and commenced his labors January 1st, 1842. He continued in the pas- torate during 31 years, embracing the most prosperous era in the history of the town. His salary was, at first, 81,000 per annum, but it was raised from time to time till it became 82,500. In 1870 he tendered his resigna- tion, expressing a desire to remain as pastor emeritus. The parish grant- ed his request, on condition that his resignation should be postponed till January 1st, 1873. In 1872, however, his failing health forbade a longer continuance in pastoral labor, and he was reheved, with a continuance of his salary and the use of the parsonage.
He was succeeded in January, 1873, by Rev. Edward O. Bartlett, whose salary was $3,000. Hle resigned in January, 1876.
Rev. Jonathan L. Jenkins, the present pastor, began his pastorate April 15th. 1877, and was installed July 5th, 1877.
The deacons of the church have been : James Easton, chosen 1765 : Josiah Wright, 1765: Matthew Barber, 1784; Joseph Clark, 1784 ; James Brattle, 1795 ; James Hubbard, 1795: Daniel Chapman, 1803; Daniel Crofoot, 1809 ; Charles Goodrich, 1809 ; Eli Maynard. 1813: Vivus Os- born, 1822 ; Josiah Bissell, 1822; Joseph Merrick, 1828; Ebenezer Burt. 1828 ; Thomas Mosely, 1832 ; Titus Goodman, 1832 ; Samuel A. Danforth, 1832; Henry C. Brown, 1834 ; Curtis T. Fenn, 1834 ; Phinehas Allen, 1839 ; Samnel D. Colt, 1839 : Thomas Taylor, 1848; Henry H. Childs, 1850 ; Henry G. Davis, 1850 : Charles Hulbert, 1850 ; Gaius C. Burnap. 1853 ; Franklin W. Pease, 1852 ; Otis R. Barker, 1860; Henry Chicker- ing, 1860 ; George N. Dutton, 1863; Jabez L. Peck. 1863 ; Zeno Russell, 1873 ; James Cowan, 1873 : John T. Power, 1880.
The meeting house that was finished in 1794 was kept in good repair. and alterations were made in it from time to time as changing taste re- quired ; the most important being the substitution of slips for the old fashioned pews.
Appropriations were early made for the improvement of the music in the sanctuary, and were repeated from time to time as they were found necessary. About 1816 Joseph Shearer presented to the parish an organ,
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
but it does not appear that it was much used, or well cared for, and it went to ruin.
Until 1846 instrumental music was furnished by performers with flutes and stringed instruments ; but in that year an organ was purchased in Boston, and Miss Helen Dunham, daughter of Deacon James H. Dan- ham. became the organist.
In 1822 John C. Williams, Nathan Willis. S. M. Mckay, Thomas B. Strong, Calvin Martin, and Joseph Shearer were appointed trustees of the ministerial fund, which consisted of a legacy of $500 from Woodbridge Little, and the ministry lot, which was sold in 1827, to Captain Hosea. Merrill for 8700. In 1831 a legacy was received from John R. Crocker. of nearly $500. In 1866 the fund received another addition of $500 by a legacy of Deacon Crofoot.
In 1840 the parish bought the homestead of Deacon Josiah Bissell, on South street, for a parsonage. This was destroyed by fire in 1842. It was rebuilt at a total expense of $1, 676 94. Abraham Burbank was the contractor for the erection and painting of the building.
After the dissolution of Union Parish the church building of that society was purchased by Lemuel Pomeroy, and was used as a lecture room, and also for morning and evening prayer meetings by the First Church. On the evening of September 6th, 1835, while a prayer meet- ing was in progress, it was struck by lightning, but no lives were lost.
From time to time efforts were made for the erection of a new ses- sions room, but withont success. In 1844 Dr. Todd became so strongly impressed with the impropriety of the joint occupancy of this house for religious and secular purposes that he peremptorily refused ever to enter it again to hold religious service.
A committee was appointed to procure subscriptions for the erection of a church building. They succeeded in obtaining pledges for $16,700. A committee of seven was appointed to superintend the erection of the church according to plans and specifications to be furnished by them and accepted by the parish. The active duties of this committee finally de- volved on two of its members, Gordon Mckay and John C. West. Mr. Eidlitz. an architect from New York, elaborated the plans, and after some changes and modifications a plan was adopted.
The contract for building the church was taken by Levi Goodrich and John C. Hoadley, at $21,500. To this $1,500 were added on account of additions to the plan. making a total of $23,000 paid to the contractors. A tax was assessed for the balance above the original subscription.
The carpets, upholstering of the pews. etc .. were provided by the ladies. Mr. and Mrs. Jason Clapp presented. for the pulpit. an elegant carved sofa and chairs, made from oaken beams taken from the second meeting house. An organ was purchased at a cost of $3,250, which was raised by subscription. The entire cost of the edifice, completed and furnished, was a little more than $28,000, exclusive of the bell and clock, which escaped injury by the fire, and which originally cost $1,600. The
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TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies on the 28th of May, 1852. An interesting feature of the occasion was the presence on the platform of Butler Goodrich, John Dickinson, Oren Goodrich, Elijah Robbins, and Enoch White, who had, sixty years before, aided in rais- ing the frame of the second meeting house. It was dedicated July 6th, 1863.
H
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The church is of the gray limestone of Pittsfield. laid in broken Ashlar, trimmed with squate blocks of rock - faced Great Barrington blue stone. The style is Elizabethan, with low walls and a very high roof. The interior is finished in chestnut, in the Gothic style, and is opened to the roof. It will seat an andience of 1. 100.
In April. 1868. George N. Dutton, Henry Colt, and Jabez L. Peck were appointed a committee to report on the expediency of building a
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
new chapel, or enlarging and repairing the old lecture room, with some definite plan, including location and probable cost.
At the annual meeting the committee reported that the old lecture room could not in any way be put in a suitable condition to meet the pressing needs of the parish. They therefore submitted plans, which they had procured from Mr. Charles T. Rathbun, for a chapel of the same style and material as the church, to be placed upon the land in its rear, owned by the parish. The cost they estimated at $11,951.80.
The report was accepted, and Messrs. Thomas Colt, Theodore Pome- roy, and Robert W. Adam were appointed a committee, with instructions to erect the chapel at a cost not exceeding $15,000.
The estimate was twice increased and finally reached the sum of $21,200.
The chapel was first occupied in 1870. Its style is Gothic and the material is the blue limestone of Pittsfield. The interior is finished simply and massively. The workmanship throughout is remarkable for faithful- ness and scrupulous care in all its parts. The entire charge of the erec- tion of the chapel and the consideration and advocacy of various impor- tant improvements upon the original plans, suggested by the progress of the work, devolved upon Mr. Colt, the chairman of the building commit- tee, who gave all the details the most constant and assiduous personal supervision, and left as few defects as possible to be discovered by expe- rience.
In 1847 the congregation of the First Parish had outgrown its ac- commodations, and several members expressed their willingness to colo- nize. Lemuel Pomeroy proposed, instead of the organization of a new parish, the employment of two clergymen, one of whom should hold services in the old lecture room, which he offered to donate for that pur- pose. This plan was not adopted.
On the Sth of May, 1848, William M. Ward, Curtis T. Fenn. Charles Hulbert, Welcome S. Howard, Ebenezer Dunham, Henry G. Davis, Charles Montagne, Oliver S. Root, Theodore Hinsdale, Avery Carey, William M. Walker, Lewis Stoddard, Wellington H. Tyler. William S. Wells, Mer- rick Ross, and James H. Dunham organized themselves as the South Con- gregational Parish. In 1850 Heman Humphrey, William L. Peck. Jason Parsons, Josiah Carter, Avery Williams, Bernice Granger, Aaron Clough, Edward Goodrich. Calvin Martin, Amos Barnes, James Dunham. N. J. Wilson, Noah Pixley, William Hubbard. Nelson Tracy, Solomon Wil- son, Bradford B. Page, P. L. Page, A. K. Parsons, Charles B. Golden. T. M. Roberts, and William Robinson became connected with the organ- ization.
On the 10th of May, 1847, measures were instituted for the erection of a church edifice, and W. H. Tyler, O. S. Root. Avery Carey. Ebenezer Dunham, Lewis Stoddard. Amos Barnes, and Calvin Martin were chosen a building committee. The old lecture room was purchased for the pur. pose of utilizing its site, and was enlarged by the gift of a strip thirty
ET
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feet in width from the northern edge of the First parsonage garden.
The new meeting house which was designed to be a handsome struc. ture of wood. with a graceful spire, was commenced, and had well ad- vanced toward completion, when the old lecture room, which had been removed a little northward, and was used by the carpenters as a work- shop, caught fire early on the morning of September 15th, 1849, and both edifices were entirely consumed.
About the first of November the new building committee, Calvin Martin, W. H. Tyler, Amos Barnes, Avery Carey, Ebenezer Dunham and Lewis Stoddard reported that a new contract had been made with Mr. R. B. Stewart, which would require the sum of $12,000, of which the parish was able to furnish $9,000, leaving $3,000 to be raised by sub- scription.
The rebuilding of the meeting house was commenced at once, and it was dedicated November 13th, 1850. The spire of this building was blown down by a gale, in 1859. It was restored at a cost of 83.500. It the spring of 1882, it was again blown down.
The members who organized the society, in 1848, did not then dis- connect themselves from the First Church. The South Congregational Church was organized on the 12th of November, 1850, the day next pre- vious to the dedication of the church edifice. It consisted of 130 members, who had been dismissed from the First Church for the purpose of form . ing this.
Rev. Samuel Harris. the first pastor, was installed March 11th, 1851. His pastorate was highly successful, but terminated in August, 1855, by his acceptance of a professorship in the Bangor Theological Seminary. He was afterward president of Bowdoin College, and professor of theol- ogy in Yale.
Doctor Harris was succeeded, in June, 1856, by Rev. Charles B. Boynton, D.D., of Cincinnati, who was dismissed in July, 1857. Rer. Roswell Foster, of Huntington. was installed April 2d, 1859. Rev. Samuel R. Dimock was installed September 24th. 1861, and dismissed April 24th, 1864. ] Rev. Edward Strong, D. D., of New Haven, and a graduate of Yale College, was installed March 15th, 1865, and dismissed November 15th, 1871. Rev. Thomas Crowther was installed May 22d. 1872, and dismissed in May, 1875. Rev. William Carruthers was in- stalled in January, 1876. Mr. Carruther's pastorate closed June 26th, 1877. Rev. Dr. Boynton, former pastor of the church, supplied the pulpit sixteen months, beginning November 4th, 1877. Rev. C. H. Ham- lin began his ministry here May 18th, 1879, and resigned in December. 1884. Rev. I. C. Smart, the present pastor, was installed June 9th, 1885.
Curtis T. Fenn. Thomas Taylor, and James H. Dunham were chosen deacons of the church November 25th, 1850. After about ten years ser- vice Mr. Fenn was relieved from active duty and died July 9th, 1871. Deacon Taylor continued in active service until near his death, which oc-
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curred September 28th, 1875. In 1859 Phineas L. Page and William Robinson were elected to the office. Mr. Page resigned on account of a change of residence. The present deacons are : William Robinson : Henry M. Pierson, elected January 15th, 1871 ; Albert Tolman, elected May 20th, 1875 ; and George Shipton.
In 1873 a new and excellent organ was purchased and the church was so remodeled as to locate the organ and choir in the rear of the pulpit. This change greatly improved the architectural appearance of the in- terior ; and was effected at an expense, including the cost of the organ. of over 85,000. The committee who had charge of the work were Wil. liam B. Rice, H. H. Richardson. E. L. Humphrey, W. K. Rice, and James H. Dunham.
In the year 1846 the Second Congregational Church was formed, con- sisting entirely of people of color. Rev. Dr. Todd, Hon. E. A. Newton. and other gentlemen took a deep interest in the new organization, and with their aid a neat church was built. Rev. Dr. Garnett, of Troy, and other colored gentlemen assisted, by preaching and otherwise, in gather- ing a congregation. The first and present pastor is Rev. Samuel Harri- son, who was ordained in 1850.
CHAPTER XXII.
TOWN OF PITTSFIELD (continued).
The Dissenters. - First Baptist Church. - First Methodist Church .- Wesleyan Methodist Church .- St. Stephen's (P. E.) Church .- St. Joseph's (R. C.) Church. - French: Catholic Church .- German Lutheran Church .- Synagogue Ansha Amonium .- Cemeteries.
A T the time of the erection of the new meeting house in Pittsfield (1790) what were called dissenters, as the Puritans had been termed in England, had come to number thirty or forty taxpayers and between two and three hundred people. The Baptist faith was introduced in Pittsfield by Elder Valentine Rathbun in 1772. In 1780 Mother Ann Lee, the founder of the Shaker sect, made many proselytes in Pittsfield, and among them Mr. Rathbun, who, however, soon renounced his Shakerism, returned to his former faith, and instituted, in a town meeting in March, 1781, measures for checking what were regarded as the extravagances and immoralities of the Shakers. A committee was appointed, consisting of Rev. Mr. Allen, Elder Rathbun, Elnathan Phelps, Eli Root, and Wood- bridge Little, and at an adjourned meeting, in April, it submitted the following report, which was adopted :
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